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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the management of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to prepare a comprehensive report on a proposed sale of a Felda-owned hotel that would reportedly result in a significant loss. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said he had refused to approve the proposed transaction after discovering that the hotel was being considered for sale at £100 million (about RM550 million), despite having been purchased by Felda’s previous management for £160 million. He said the proposed sale raised concerns, particularly as Felda settlers continue to face financial difficulties and require greater support to improve their living conditions and basic facilities. “Felda is under my watch. Two months ago, the Felda management came and asked me to sign for the sale of this hotel,” Anwar said during his speech at the Semarak Kenegaraan Programme with the armed forces at Terendak Camp. “I said, wait a moment, what kind of business is this? Selling at a price lower than when it was bought. So I did not sign. I said, find out who did this and submit a report,” he added. Anwar questioned the rationale behind the proposed disposal, noting that many Felda settlers continue to struggle with inadequate income and basic infrastructure needs. He said settlers had raised concerns during his visits, including requests for improvements to air-conditioning facilities, school repairs and better income opportunities. “Felda settlers are struggling. When I visited the settlers, they said they wanted air conditioning, schools to be repaired, and their income is insufficient. But Felda itself is just casually losing money,” he said. The Prime Minister said the decision to request a full report was intended to ensure greater accountability and protect Felda’s role as an important national institution. He stressed that government agencies, particularly those established to support the country’s communities, must be managed responsibly and their resources protected. “If we don’t do something, no matter how long, our agencies — including Malay agencies that we take pride in and want to defend — this is what will become of them. So we must correct that,” he said. Also present at the event were Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Army Chief Gen Azhan Othman.

Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) has allocated RM80 million through three enhanced financing programmes to help 220 Bumiputera entrepreneurs gain faster access to funding and improve their business cash flow. The three programmes — Prosper Grow Biz Express, Prosper Grow Fuel Up and Prosper Grow Auto Biz — offer financing rates starting from 3.5% per annum on a flat-rate basis for selected financing products. Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) chief executive officer Izwan Zainuddin. Under Prosper Grow Biz Express, eligible entrepreneurs can apply for financing between RM100,000 and RM300,000, with funds potentially being released within 12 working days, subject to complete documentation and credit assessment. The programme is open to sole proprietorships, partnerships and limited liability partnerships operating in the retail, distributive trade and manufacturing sectors. PUNB Chief Executive Officer Izwan Zainuddin said timely access to financing is important for businesses looking to take advantage of growth opportunities and expand their operations. He said entrepreneurs need not only sufficient financing but also a faster application process and repayment structures that match their business needs. Meanwhile, Prosper Grow Fuel Up provides working capital financing of up to 100% for inventory purchases by Bumiputera petrol station operators. Financing ranges from RM100,000 to RM1 million, with repayment periods of up to seven years. Prosper Grow Auto Biz, meanwhile, is designed for automotive service centres operating under strategic partners such as PETRONAS AutoExpert. The programme provides financing of between RM100,000 and RM1 million for fixed assets and working capital, also with repayment tenures of up to seven years. PUNB also provides a principal repayment grace period of up to six months, subject to assessment. This allows entrepreneurs additional time to stabilise their businesses before beginning principal repayments. Izwan said the programmes reflect PUNB’s broader role as a business development partner, rather than simply a financing provider. The initiative is aimed at helping Bumiputera entrepreneurs build stronger, more resilient and competitive businesses while supporting the government’s Bumiputera economic development agenda and Ekonomi MADANI framework. By improving access to capital, PUNB expects the programmes to encourage greater participation by Bumiputera businesses across key economic sectors and support their long-term growth.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s (Khazanah) Jelawang Capital and Retirement Fund Inc’s (KWAP) Dana Perintis invested a combined RM588 million into Malaysian startups in 2025, supporting businesses across sectors including consumer, digital, agritech and education technology (edtech). The Ministry of Finance (MoF) said the initiative, carried out under the Government-Linked Enterprises Activation and Reform Programme (GEAR-uP), has supported more than 130 Malaysian startups, including nearly 30 Bumiputera startups, between 2020 and June 2026. The ministry said both platforms work with fund managers through targeted investment strategies, helping expand Malaysia’s venture capital ecosystem while attracting additional private sector funding. In July 2024, Khazanah consolidated two government venture capital entities — Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP) and Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd) — before launching Jelawang Capital in October 2024 as Malaysia’s national fund-of-funds. The initiative received an initial allocation of RM1 billion for 2024 to 2028 under Dana Impak. Meanwhile, KWAP’s Dana Perintis operates as a RM500 million early-stage investment fund for the same period, supporting promising Malaysian startups with growth capital and funding continuity. MoF said Jelawang Capital channels investments to emerging and regional fund managers, who then raise additional private capital and invest in local startups. In 2025, the platform helped mobilise RM290 million into emerging domestic and regional fund managers. Together, Jelawang Capital and Dana Perintis aim to strengthen Malaysia’s startup ecosystem by improving access to funding, supporting business expansion and encouraging greater private investment participation. The ministry also highlighted other investment initiatives under GEAR-uP, including Khazanah’s Dana Impak, which has committed RM1 billion between 2024 and 2028 to support the growth of Malaysian mid-tier companies (MTCs). Through partnerships with private equity firms such as Creador, Navis Capital and Granite Asia, Dana Impak aims to provide growth capital and strategic support for local businesses. KWAP’s Dana Pemacu also contributes growth-stage private equity investments through its co-investment approach. For Bumiputera mid-tier companies, Ekuinas continues to provide private equity and private credit support, having generated RM7.1 billion in Bumiputera equity value since 2009. This is further complemented by Khazanah’s upcoming Dana Ciptawan, a planned RM200 million initiative aimed at supporting Bumiputera enterprises and other Malaysian mid-tier companies.

Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) has invested RM51 million through its Dana Pemacu initiative to support the growth of a Malaysian nutraceutical products supplier and brand owner, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s private markets ecosystem and healthcare sector. According to the Ministry of Finance’s (MoF) GEAR-uP Progress Report released today, the investment was made in Bio-Science Nutraceutical Holdings Sdn Bhd through local general partner Mekar Capital and global general partner Navis Capital. The ministry said the investment demonstrates how institutional capital can help develop high-value healthcare and wellness businesses by enhancing Malaysia’s capabilities in nutraceutical innovation, product commercialisation and premium brand development. The report also highlighted another Dana Pemacu initiative involving the development of centralised labour quarters through Foster Capital as the local general partner and Castleforge as the global general partner. Under the first phase of the project, KWAP has committed RM210 million to develop accommodation for 9,000 workers. The initiative forms part of a larger development comprising four projects that will provide 28,800 beds with a combined gross development value of approximately RM600 million. The Ministry of Finance said the project aims to improve living conditions for workers while supporting Malaysia’s long-term economic growth. Launched in May 2024, Dana Pemacu is designed to accelerate Malaysia’s economic transformation by deploying commercially viable investments that create long-term value while enhancing the impact of government-linked investment companies (GLICs). The report also outlined the progress of Khazanah Nasional’s Dana Impak initiative. As of June 2026, the programme had supported 32 mid-tier companies through the Mid-Tier Companies Growth Innovation Programme and another 21 companies under the ELEVATE 2.0 Programme. MoF added that GLICs continue to play a key role as cornerstone investors in quality listings on Bursa Malaysia, helping to strengthen the country’s capital markets by providing funding that can be reinvested into future high-growth businesses. The ministry said achieving the Capital Market Master Plan 2026–2030 target of RM5.8 trillion to RM6.3 trillion in market capitalisation by 2030 will depend on a steady pipeline of new listings supported by institutional investors. Meanwhile, GLICs actively managed a portfolio of 37 government-linked companies (GLCs) with a targeted annual return of 7.5% between 2024 and 2028. In 2025, the portfolio exceeded expectations by delivering an 8.0% shareholder return, with the potential to generate up to RM100 billion in value. MoF noted that as GLCs account for around 27% of Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market capitalisation, the returns generated ultimately benefit Malaysians through institutions such as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), KWAP, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and Lembaga Tabung Haji. The ministry added that GLICs continue to create long-term value by driving shareholder returns, strengthening corporate governance and supporting Malaysia’s strategic national development priorities.

Cambodia is set to develop its first large-scale fresh milk production and processing facility through a US$68 million investment in Pursat province, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s dairy industry, reducing milk imports and meeting growing domestic demand. The project, known as Farm Fresh Pursat, will be developed in Veal Veng district across approximately 1,000 hectares. It will feature international-standard dairy farms and a local milk processing plant, creating a fully integrated dairy production ecosystem capable of supplying both the domestic market and future export opportunities. Celebrating a landmark partnership for sustainable dairy development: Rida (left) and Loi (right) shaking hands following the land lease signing ceremony for the Farm Fresh Pursat project. The investment follows a land lease agreement signed on Aug 5 between the Pursat Provincial Administration, Sonavith Co Ltd, Malaysia’s Farm Fresh Group and Cambodia’s Alpha Group. The project builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by Farm Fresh and Alpha Group during the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025 to establish Cambodia’s first large-scale fresh milk production and processing facility. Pursat Governor Khoy Rida described the project as a historic milestone that will establish the country’s largest dairy farm while creating significant employment opportunities for local communities and supporting the province’s economic development. Farm Fresh Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Loi Tuan Ee said the company is honoured to invest in Pursat and welcomed the strong support and incentives provided by the Cambodian government. He added that the investment would not only strengthen Cambodia’s dairy industry but also raise Pursat’s profile across Southeast Asia and internationally. The project comes as Cambodia seeks to improve its food security following supply disruptions caused by last year’s border conflict with Thailand. Thailand previously supplied more than 76% of Cambodia’s dairy imports, and the disruption led to widespread fresh milk shortages, affecting supermarkets, cafés and restaurants. With the new facility, Cambodia aims to expand local fresh milk production, reduce dependence on imports and build a more resilient and sustainable dairy supply chain for the future.